EARTHQUAKES IN US HISTORY

ByThe Associated PressOctober 19, 1989

The 1906 San Francisco quake was the worst US death toll, although at least two other events were stronger in terms of the Richter scale. Here is a rundown of other major earthquakes in American history as recorded by the US Geological Survey:

New Madrid, Mo., was shaken by three quakes in 1811-12 estimated at 8.4 to 8.7 on the Richter scale, but damage and casualties were light because the region had a relatively small population at the time. These quakes were felt as far away as Boston and New York.

Prince William Sound, Alaska, was hit by a quake rated at 8.4 on the Richter scale, on March 27, 1984. In this century only one quake, in Chile in 1960, has been stronger. There were 131 deaths and extensive damage in Alaska.